The college in Conflans-Saint-Honorine (Yvelines), where Samuel Paty was teaching when he was killed by a young radicalized Islamist in October 2020, voted to adopt the name of this history and geography teacher, the town’s mayor announced on the social network X on Monday evening.
“The board of directors of Le Bois d’Aulne college in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine voted to change the name of the establishment to Samuel Paty college,” detailed Laurent Brosse (Horizons) in his publication. “A strong symbol almost four years after the assassination of Samuel Paty.”
The establishment could actually be renamed once this decision has been voted on by the municipal council and the departmental council.
“Fighting against obscurantism”
“It is essential to honour the memory of Samuel Paty, it was a wish of the family, and to fight against obscurantism,” said Corinne Grootaert, president of the FCPE of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.
“I would like us to be able to hear the children,” this mother of a student qualifies, however, affirming that they have been the “great forgotten” since the murder of their teacher four years ago.
Samuel Paty, a 47-year-old teacher, was stabbed and then beheaded by Abdoullakh Anzorov, a Russian refugee of Chechen origin, on October 16, 2020.
The 18-year-old radicalized man accused him of showing caricatures of Mohammed in class. Before being killed by the police, he had claimed responsibility for his actions, congratulating himself on having “avenged the prophet.”
In April 2022, ten members of Samuel Paty’s family filed a complaint against the administration, accusing it of failing to protect the professor.
A judicial investigation has been opened by the Paris prosecutor’s office for failure to assist a person in danger and failure to prevent a crime.
In this case, six middle school students have already been sentenced to terms ranging from 14 months in prison, suspended, to six months in prison – to be served under electronic monitoring – on December 9, 2023 for their involvement in the assassination.
The trial of eight adults indicted is scheduled before the special assize court in Paris from November 12 to December 20.
Samuel Paty’s sister has also taken the matter to the administrative courts to have the State recognised as responsible for this assassination.
